NWS Advisories in Effect for the Marianas; Avoid Hazardous Seas

NWS Advisories in Effect for the Marianas; Avoid Hazardous Seas

The National Weather Service (NWS), Guam Weather Forecast Office advise large swell will continue to produce hazardous seas for the Marianas. The following advisories are in effect:

A high surf advisory is in effect for Guam, Rota, Tinian, and Saipan until 7 a.m. Sunday, meaning high surf will affect beaches in the advisory area, producing localized beach erosion and dangerous swimming conditions. Hazardous surf of 8 to 10 feet along north facing reefs and 9 to 11 feet along east facing reefs are expected.

A high risk of rip currents is in effect for Guam, Rota, Tinian, and Saipan through Tuesday afternoon. Rip currents are powerful channels of water flowing quickly away from shore. If caught in a rip current, yell for help. Remain calm and stay afloat while waiting for help. If swimming out of a rip current, swim parallel to shore and back toward the beach when possible. Do not attempt to swim directly against a rip current. Rip currents will be life threatening.

The community is reminded to heed the advice of lifeguards, beach patrol flags, and signs.

A small craft advisory is in effect for Guam, Rota, Tinian, and Saipan coastal waters until 6 p.m. Tuesday. Northeast winds of 15 to 25 knots and combined seas of 9 to 12 feet will produce hazardous conditions for operators of small craft. Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels, should avoid sailing in these conditions.

The Offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense (GHS/OCD) advise residents and visitors to avoid north and east facing reefs and beaches until hazardous conditions subside.

X Flooding is a temporary overflowing of water onto land that is normally dry. Flooding may happen with only a few inches of water, or it may cover a house to the rooftop. There are many possible causes of floods including heavy rain, coastal storms and storm surge, waterway overflow from being blocked with debris, or overflow of levees, dams, or waste water systems. Flooding can occur slowly over many days or happen very quickly with little or no warning, called flash floods.

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Typhoons/Hurricanes are massive storm systems that form over the water and move toward land. Threats from typhoons/hurricanes include high winds, heavy rainfall, storm surge, coastal and inland flooding, and rip currents.

“Hurricanes” form in the Atlantic Northeast Pacific region and “Typhoons” form in the Northwest Pacific Region. These large storms are call cyclones in other parts of the world.

X Hazardous materials come in the form of explosives, flammable and combustible substances, poisons and radioactive materials. Hazards can occur during production, storage, transportation, use, or disposal. You and your community are at risk if a chemical is used unsafely or released in harmful amounts in the environement where you live, work or play.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Definition of Terrorism

Under Section 2 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002:

The term ‘‘terrorism’’ means any activity that— (A) involves an act that— (i) is dangerous to human life or potentially destructive of critical infrastructure or key resources; and (ii) is a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State or other subdivision of the United States; and (B) appears to be intended— (i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; (ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or (iii) to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping.

X Tsunamis, also known as seismic waves (mistakenly called “tidal waves”), are a series of enormous waves created by an underwater disturbance such as an earthquake, landslide, volcanic eruption, or meteorite. Earthquake-induced movement of the ocean floor most often generate tsunamis. If a major earthquake or landslide occurs close to shore, the first wave in a series could reach the beach in a few minutes, even before a warning is issued.